Acoustic Routes (Re: 2013)
Cert. 12A

Originally made as a BBC documentary in 1992, this acclaimed film from writer-director Leman has now been reedited to include extra performance footage of its subject, folk legend Bert Jansch. In plotting Jansch’s lengthy career – he was performing right up until his death in 2011 – ACOUSTIC ROUTES provides a fascinating history of the fertile British folk scene of the 1960s and beyond.

The roster of musicians citing Jansch as both a major influence and valued colleague represents an impressive who’s who of the genre and includes Wizz Jones, Martin Carthy, John Renbourn and Anne Briggs. The film, enthusiastically narrated by Billy Connolly – who before he discovered comedy and Hollywood was something of a folk hero himself – naturally features many fine performances from all involved, but it’s ultimately Jansch who rightly steals the show.